Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 173

TYPES OF STORIES IN SANSKRIT AND PRAKRIT LITERATURE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DHARMA-KATHA IN JAIN LITERATURE (A) Katha and its types as given in Prakrit Works According to Sthananga-sutra', katha is threefold. 1. artha- 2. dharmaand 3. kama-katha whereas vikatha2 is fourfold : 1. stri- 2. bhakta- 3. desa- and 4. raja-katha. Each of these four is further sub-divided into four sub-types. Further on, Sutra 5693 declares that there are seven vikathas and adds to the above four types the following three vikathas. 5. mrdukarunika. 6. darsanabhedini and, 7. caritra-bhedini. Sthananga (Sutra 282) divides katha (or rather dharmakatha) into four sub-types. 1. aksepani, 2. viksepani, 3. samvegajanani (or Samvejani) and 4. nirvedajanani (or nirvedani). According to Vasudevahindia, the katha is twofold : 1. Carita (narrative based on tradition, biography) and 2. Kalpita (work of imagination, fiction invention). Carita is twofold, 1. narrative of life of a woman or man. Carita is : whatever is seen, heard or experienced with regard to the achievement in the field of the three ends of human life, dharma (virtue, sacred law or duty) 2. artha (wealth) and 3. kama (pleasure). But whatever is opposite of this, i.e., whatever is invented by the poet or story-teller and added to what has been told by the wise is called Kalpita. Men and women are known to be 1. uttama (exalted, excellent) 2. madhyama (middlemost) and, 3. nikrsta (low or vite or debased). Narratives based on their lives (Caritas) too are of the same kind. Haribhadrasuri in his Introduction (bhumika) to his own Samaradityakatha informs us that according to the view of the ancient acaryas the subjectmatter of a story may relate to (1) only divine characters or (2) divine and human characters together or (3) all human characters. A story in general could have four types :